PLEASE BE THERE! Nichols Basin Appeal Hearing on Monday

wheels · Since 14 May 2005 29 Posts

Calling all kiters and wakeboarders in Hood River and Portland.

PLEASE come out to this crucial appeal hearing in Hood River on Monday, June 25, regarding the approval of the Hotel/Office Space at Nichols Boat Basin. If the appeal ends up reversing the city's approval of the project, which is a precursor to the cable park, there will be no cable park. It's super important that we band together and get every cable park supporter there possible.

No testimony will be taken, but the more support from the community we can show the better. Wear a blue shirt and please spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/events/433446150019667/

Mike D · Since 28 Apr 2011 195 Posts Hood River Stoked

I'll be there in blue, let's show some support!

Pepi · Mon Jun 25, 12 11:29 am

Got my BLUE T on!!!

forrest · Mon Jun 25, 12 12:39 pm

The opposition is going to be there, they've created their own facebook event as well, which you can see here: https://www.facebook.com/events/196116603850042/

This is your chance to help, It will only be a few minutes of your time. Please be there between 5:30 - 5:45, meeting starts at 6! Wear Blue.

forrest · Tue Jun 26, 12 8:48 am

With a strong showing of "blue" support, and a 5 1/2 hour meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to deny the opposition's appeal, allowing the retail building and hotel permit to move forward with some considerations. The Naito's resubmitted the Cable Park application to the city today before the meeting. We won this battle, but the war has just begun. Everyone is going to need to make time to work on this if we want the Cable Park to happen.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Thanks for all your hard work on this Forrest!! I appreciate your work toward a better and more appealing hr waterfront. Just to clarify, how many times can they appeal and reappeal this? At what point does the project move forward?

Thanks again!

Pepi · Tue Jun 26, 12 12:56 pm

Was so stoked to attend last night's council meeting.
It was definitely hard to sit through Brent Foster's 1 hour embarrassing and dragging commentary/questioning as he attempted to build a discrediting case to recuse Mayor Babitz from the hearings, and even worse actually fabricating a negative story about Jennifer Gulizia (especially since she is not actively participating as a council member on this case).
Anyways, longstory short, Attorney Steve Naito, the City Attorney and then Mayor Babitz all had an effectively clear and easy task of breaking down and eliminating each and every one of Brent Foster's arguments against the city, the Naitos and then took to task his derogatory and fabricated comments meant to harm the city via the discrediting of Babitz and Gulizia.
It did truly show what great lengths the "Friends of Hood River" were willing to go to in stretching the truth, the laws and even their own facts, just to try to win this battle. I guess this is true lawyering though, but it's just not my cup of tea. Telling lies and then finding out if you get called out on it.

So we can take last night as a victory, but the battle still has a long way to go. Instead of posting a victory song, here's a dedication that about sums up my feelings towards those fighting against the basin improvments, the City and ReCreate :

Link

Here's a great shot of some of the supporters in blue. The "real" next generation of waterfront users who are the true "friends" of the Hood River waterfront.

bambam · Since 15 Mar 2005 760 Posts Hood River Photographer

I have never met Brent Foster until last night, but... wow... he sure did not make a very good showing... If I was involved with the "Friends of Hood River", I would have been embarassed to have Brent as a representative/lawyer.

Did not stick around until the end, and it is good to hear that the proper voices stood up and called out the BS.

Lets continue to support this project with our presence and hopefully the proper people have taken note of all possible issues regarding the Cable Park and are preparing logical and informed responses.

Question... Does this at least clear the Hotel/Retail/Landbased aspects of this project to actually proceed now?

Bams

forrest · Tue Jun 26, 12 3:08 pm

The way I understand it the "Friends" have one more chance to appeal via LUBA:
http://www.oregon.gov/luba/index.shtml

The thing that really struck me was how slow and boring Brent was during his attempt at incriminating the Mayor. I really think he was trying to take as much time as possible to bore the audience. Perhaps an attempt to make people not want to come next time because it will be boring? I dunno if this is true, just the way it felt, and it does align with their strategy to bog the process down as much as possible and try to block any development from happening.

"Friends", thanks for the two buildings an no mitigation funds being secured to improve a nearby beach... You guys really dropped the ball on that one.

I still think it could be nice if we all worked together to make sure the development happens the right way that would work for BOTH groups, rather than duking it out so one side wins and another side looses.

I want the opposition to know:
- we'll only get more fierce with our support,
- that the boat basin is SHIT salmon habitat in which improvements would be a waste of money as that money could go to places where there would be more habitat for the buck,
- that the boat basin isn't subject to the public use doctrine as it's man made,
- that cable based wakeboarding is an activity on the waterfront that doesn't have a place to do it (as opposed to other things like kayaking and SUPing where there are plenty of places),
- and that fabricating use through free rental days doesn't count.

Because of this, I believe the opposition has no factual reasons for blocking the cable park so it would behoove them to sit down and start negotiating a solution that works for BOTH groups, and abandon the idea that they'll be successful in blocking the cable park.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

COCK BLOCKING ASSHATS!!!!!!

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Probably good I didn't go, liable to start swinging. Cockblockers and fun nazis rile me up.

Jonpnw · Tue Jun 26, 12 5:39 pm

Can the towers be installed on the shoreline? So then you would simply have cables going over the water? How can wakeboarding over the top of the top be anymore damaging than kayaking, sup'ing, canoeing, etc.....

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

well said forrest
my thoughts exactly

Sella · Tue Jun 26, 12 7:15 pm

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Wish I could have stayed longer. Definitely see you guys at the next meeting.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I'm just asking?
Thanks

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

Just thinking I doubt most people wanting to use the park will be up at 6am... I don't think there would be a problem...

Maybe point out that those that like the early am paddle, the park probably wouldn't be active until... what do you think 10am? so they can paddle till XX:YY am?

Just thinking...